‘Stay cautious’, IMD tells travellers as heatwave grips plains; rain and storms sweep hills and northeast- Moneycontrol.com
Travel may be impacted due to extreme weather across regions
India is set to witness sharply contrasting weather conditions over the coming days, with heatwave warnings issued for large parts of the north and central regions even as rainfall, thunderstorms and hail activity are forecast in the hills, Northeast and parts of eastern India, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The latest All India Weather Summary and Forecast Bulletin, released on April 24, highlights the presence of multiple active weather systems across the country at the same time. The development is expected to impact travel as the summer holiday season begins.
The IMD has warned of isolated heatwave conditions in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, along with parts of central India and pockets of Kerala. These conditions are likely to persist until April 27 before easing in some areas.
Temperatures have already surged in several locations, with Prayagraj recording a maximum of 45.2 degrees Celsius on April 24. Warm night conditions are also expected in parts of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and eastern Uttar Pradesh, keeping temperatures elevated even after sunset.
While the plains continue to reel under intense heat, the western Himalayan region is likely to experience unsettled weather.
States including Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to receive light to moderate rainfall, thunderstorms and gusty winds on multiple days until April 30, with snowfall likely in higher reaches.
In the Northeast, weather activity is expected to intensify further. The IMD has forecast widespread rainfall across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely between April 27 and 30.
Thundersqualls with wind speeds reaching up to 70 kmph are expected over Assam and Meghalaya on April 26 and 27, along with the possibility of hailstorms in isolated areas.
Parts of eastern India are also likely to witness thunderstorms and gusty winds. These conditions are expected over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Bihar and Odisha, with thundersquall activity in some areas.
In southern parts of the country, including Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, isolated light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning is expected through the week.
Weather experts have advised travellers to remain cautious, as heatwave conditions in the plains and storm-related disruptions in the hill and northeastern regions could affect movement. The IMD has also urged people to stay updated with local forecasts as conditions continue to evolve.
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